From a Divorcee to a Billionaire

Heavy voices of merry ladies and men hung hugely over Jamole's house. Today was the 24th birth day party of his adorable wife, Stella Pitcher and although she had hinted him about it a few nights ago, yet he was still lost in his gloom due to what she demanded for a birthday gift.

Nights on end Jamole had been nagged by countless nightmares over thought of meeting her demand. He barely could provide a proper square meal for Stella so he wondered what would inspire his elegant wife to demand for an Arabic Coral Gold Ring.

He was yet to know the worth of that gold ring but truth be told, with the few celebrities he had seen donning that ring he knew it wasn't a piece of cake.

With his oversized shoes which had its sole gaping at the ceiling and his I-was-white T-shirt over bottom-patched pants, he was all ready for work but without the audacity to go to his wife in the sitting room to demand for ten dollar which was his transport fare to work.

The merriment continued in a very thumping manner and they were about cutting the sizeable cake when Jamole pranced to the sitting room, perched at the door, and cast a worrisome gaze at his wife, who was smiling cheek to cheek and accepting gifts of all sorts from her rich pals and associates.

All the while he had been initiating their gaze to meet so she could advance to him and help him with the money, saving him the embarrassment of the guests raising a brow at his odd looks; because he knew they would definitely raise a brow if he had stepped an inch further into their midst.

Fortunately their gaze locked and she caught the message in his cloudy eyes. She excused herself and her high heels knocked louder toward him.

"Happy birthday, wife," Jamole affirmed gratefully since wishes were the only gift he could afford now. A contagious smile decked his face and she didn't return the compliment, making his smile to disappear within the chin from where it came.

Just like he did, she folded her arms, shot her quarrelsome gaze at him and queried him with her thunderous eyes.

He wanted to speak yet further and she raised her hands at him to shut the hell up.

He winced and snorted with his thick lips tightly pressed.

"Today is my birthday. Am I going to remind you Arabic Coral Gold Ring still remains what I want for a birth day gift, huh?" she yelled.

With the corner of his eyes, Jamole could see a few of the guests had settled their gaze on them.

"Could you please keep your voice down, dear? You are creating a scene." he mumbled, struggled to keep his stare between the guests that were moping at them now and his wife who was mad at him in a menacing manner.

Her wide, pale palms were raised at him once again when he dared to explain himself. "Spare me that crab, Jamole. For three years, three whole years I have been begging my able-bodied husband to buy me Arabic Coral Gold Ring and it is already taking you eternity to do so." She peered at him and stooped. "When are you going to buy me the ring? Is it when lions begin to use clipper?"

He dared to swallow hard this time but his mouth had dried up and he inwardly fought back the grievances impounding in his heart. He became the spectacle of the entire guest now because her voice was already beaming.

"Please ,Stella can we discuss this privately, at least out of earshot?" His eyes darted around and she did same to see all eyes were on them now. "Our marriage deserves some respect, and I am still your husband despite my..."

She interposed him, "...Poverty," she added.

He raised a furrowed brow and she tossed her head in affirmation, "Yes of course!" her voice blared and echoed across the room, "What else could have caused my husband three years to buy me a mere gold ring if not poverty..."

He interrupted her with his arms molded in apologies. "Give me some more time, I promise to buy you the gold ring, just give me one more year...I am working out something," he stuttered, as he could hear few of the guests murmuring words that sounded like 'good-for-nothing husband.'

"Broke ass husband! Could you please leave our party? We don't want bad energy here." He heard a voice mumble among the guests.

That was the voice of Vivian Thompson; she owned one of the best selling supermarkets in town.

At once again Jamole grinned hugely and rolled his eyes at Vivian.

When he thought that was enough another voice among the guests beamed, "Can you imagine his shoes? It gapes like the mouth of a whale!" that was the voice of Kennedy John, a sales person at the Antipolo Central Airport. He was among the closest buddies of Stella.

The entire guests burst into a mocking laugh and Jamole shut his eyes and grinned hard.

Stella chuckled and let a throaty, mocking laugh, while she pointed into his face, "Okay I guess one year won't be enough, my darling husband. I am going to give you two decades to buy me a birthday gift." She pointed at the tons of various gifts. "Did you see those gifts over there, they were given to me by friends who know my worth; pals who value Stella Pitcher. I can do without you, Jamole."

After three years of saving his daily income of one dollar as a janitor at the post office and the municipal town hall, he was able to realize one thousand dollars for the Arabic Coral Gold Ring.